EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. - North Star Athletics co-owners Natalia Collins and Jessica Prokop opened a new gym in East Longmeadow for their all-star cheerleading program last year.

The two best friends combined have more than 20 years of coaching experience and decided it was time to build their own program after seeing a lack of cheerleading outlets in western Massachusetts.

"There is an opportunity here," Collins said. "There is not a facility in western Massachusetts, so there's a lot of athletes who were having to make long drives into Connecticut and other areas to be on teams. And now we have a facility here where it's accessible to everybody."

North Star Athletics has more than 90 athletes on seven teams in its program, with ages as young as 4-years-old. The group also has several skill levels from novice to elite, and competes with teams from across the country with full-year and half-year leagues

Some of the cheerleaders say having a local all-star program has been a great experience.

"I first started as dance, and at the dance committee there was a cheer flyer and I decided I wanted to try something new and I felt like I would be good at cheer," said Lucy Bombarb. "So I wanted to try it and I got into the sport and I started loving it."

"I like that I got to make new friends," said Jaiana Hall. "And we get to connect with each other in different ways. I also like to travel with them and we just get to know each and it's just fun."

Collins and Prokop said one of the older teams will be competing in nationals in Florida this May. It's the team's first competition of the year, and on top of teamwork and perseverance, both coaches say the sport of cheerleading has plenty of benefits.

"It teaches the ability to collectively work towards one goal," Prokop said. "It teaches tumbling, it teaches dance, it teaches stunting. You're throwing kids up in the air and catching them, so there's a lot of different aspects to cheerleading. It's a sport and it deserves to have its own facility, so that's what we're trying to do to the community."